To get started, here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before, and you have indeed seen most of the words in today's sayings already!
1. In arena scribis.
You're-writing in sand.
in a-RE-na scribis.
You know all the words in this saying!
The verb scribis is the 2nd-person form of the verb scribit.
The word arena (arenā) is the ablative form of the noun arena, ablative because of the preposition in.
This is another of those fool's errands: you don't want to write in water or in sand or in ash. It's never going to last if you do that!
2. A pumice aquam petis.
You're-seeking water from (a) stone.
a PU-mice aquam petis.
The verb petis is the 2nd-person form of the verb petit, "seeks, asks for," as in the English word "petition." You haven't see this verb before, but you've seen it in a compound form: appetit.
2. A pumice aquam petis.
You're-seeking water from (a) stone.
a PU-mice aquam petis.
The verb petis is the 2nd-person form of the verb petit, "seeks, asks for," as in the English word "petition." You haven't see this verb before, but you've seen it in a compound form: appetit.
The word pumice is the ablative form of the noun pumex, ablative because of the preposition a.
The word aquam is the accusative form of the noun aqua, accusative because it is the object of the verb.
Another fool's errand! Compare the English saying, trying to get "blood from a stone" or "blood from a turnip."
3. Ab asino lanam petis.
You're-seeking wool from (a) donkey.
ab A-sino lanam petis.
You now know all the words in this saying, since you learned petis in the previous saying.
3. Ab asino lanam petis.
You're-seeking wool from (a) donkey.
ab A-sino lanam petis.
You now know all the words in this saying, since you learned petis in the previous saying.
The word asino is the ablative form of the noun asinus, ablative because of the preposition a, which is spelled ab here because of the following vowel: ab asino. (Compare the use of "n" in English in a phrase like "an apple").
The word lanam is the accusative form of the noun lana, accusative because it is the object of the verb.
And yet again, another fool's errand: you get wool from sheep, not from donkeys.
4. Acum in meta faeni quaeris.
You're-looking-for (a) needle in (a) stack of-hay.
acum in meta faeni quaeris.
The two new words here are the needle, acus, in the stack, meta of hay; you already know the word for hay: faenum. And yes, the word acus is related to the "sharp" words in English like "acuity" and "acumen." But, as far as I know, we don't get any English words from Latin meta; all those meta- words in English (like metaphor, metadata, etc.) are from Greek meta, not Latin.
4. Acum in meta faeni quaeris.
You're-looking-for (a) needle in (a) stack of-hay.
acum in meta faeni quaeris.
The two new words here are the needle, acus, in the stack, meta of hay; you already know the word for hay: faenum. And yes, the word acus is related to the "sharp" words in English like "acuity" and "acumen." But, as far as I know, we don't get any English words from Latin meta; all those meta- words in English (like metaphor, metadata, etc.) are from Greek meta, not Latin.
The verb quaeris is the 2nd-person form of the verb quaerit.
The word meta (metā) is the ablative form of the noun meta, ablative because of the preposition in, and faeni is the genitive of faenum, so: in meta faeni, "in a stack of hay," i.e. in the proverbial haystack!
The word acum is the accusative form of the noun acus, accusative because it is the object of the verb.
Not quite a fool's errand this time, but a very difficult task! We have the same saying in English, looking for a needle in a haystack.
5. Ante victoriam canis triumphum.
You're-singing (the) victory-song before (the) victory.
ante vic-TO-riam canis triumphum.
The new word here is triumphus, the celebration of victory in ancient Rome — the highest military honor that a general could win — and it's easy to recognize because this is the origin of the English word "triumph."
5. Ante victoriam canis triumphum.
You're-singing (the) victory-song before (the) victory.
ante vic-TO-riam canis triumphum.
The new word here is triumphus, the celebration of victory in ancient Rome — the highest military honor that a general could win — and it's easy to recognize because this is the origin of the English word "triumph."
The verb canis is the 2nd-person form of the verb canit. And yes, the Latin word canis also means dog! The words canis, "you sing," and canis, "dog," are homographs in Latin: different words with the same spelling. Of course, we have lots of homographs in English also, far more than Latin does. For example, you use a "bat" to play baseball, but "bats" are also animals!
This is the Roman imperial version of "counting your chickens before they're hatched."
Here's a recap:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- In arena scribis.
- A pumice aquam petis.
- Ab asino lanam petis.
- Acum in meta faeni quaeris.
- Ante victoriam canis triumphum.
Plus the LOLCats!
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